"Roaring Red Deer - 2nd Sketch"

The red deer (Cervus elaphus) bellows in autumn to signal its presence, attract hinds, and keep rivals at bay. This deep, rolling roar — which rises and falls on a long, sustained note — is one of the most intense sounds a forest can offer.

The head thrown skyward, the neck extended, strands of vegetation caught in the tines — this is the bellow seen from the side, in its environment. A few wildflowers in the foreground anchor the scene; the background stays white. The intention is to place the sound in its setting: to convey the damp morning air of autumn as much as the animal itself.